Carmichael Elementary School Receives New Kid-Designed, Community-Built Playground

Disponible en: Español

Students at Carmichael Elementary School will see a new addition to their campus: a playground. On Thursday, June 5, the campus held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new kid-designed, community-built playground, which will be enjoyed by the more than 700 kids at Carmichael each year. The new playground is a collaboration between Aldine ISD, the Morgan Stanley Foundation, and KABOOM! Eighty-five volunteers showed up Friday morning eager to assemble the new playground, which they completed in under six hours.

The new playground at Carmichael ES is part of a nationwide effort led by KABOOM! to address playspace inequity. Many children, especially children of color and in underserved communities, lack access to quality playspaces. The collaboration was steered by community members from design to installation. In April, students at Carmichael had the opportunity to share their dream play space designs with the project organizers, which was integrated into the new playground.

Carmichael Elementary School Principal Monica Stogsdill (middle) with students preparing to cut the ribbon on the new playground.

“This is wonderful and great, and I know the kids were like, wow, when they walked out, and I know they will be excited to play with it,” said Carmichael Elementary School Principal Monica Stogsdill. “We’re extremely thankful, and I appreciate all of your help. We couldn’t have done this without Morgan Stanley and Kaboom! And I know the kids are going to love it.”

One of those exciting students was fifth grader Dmias Willians.

“I like that we are getting a new playground. The first thing I want to get on is the slide,” said Dmias.

KABOOM! Has been partnering with kids and communities to build playgrounds since 1996. They have created or transformed more than 17,000 play spaces, ensuring that 12 million kids have equitable access to experience the benefits that playspaces offer, including physical, social, and mental health benefits. KABOOM! and Morgan Stanley have had a long-standing partnership since 2011, serving over 59,000 children in communities across the country. Morgan Stanley and KABOOM! have partnered to build 32 playgrounds across the United States.

Morgan Stanley’s Executive Director and Regional Manager at the Houston Pwm Branch, Michael Wesbrooks, thanked everyone for their dedication throughout the process and how they’re truly making a difference for children.

Michael Wesbrooks (far right), with other representatives and volunteers with Morgan Stanley, poses in front of the playground signage.

“This was an unbelievable job, and I feel so proud to be out here with all of you,” said Wesbrooks. “ I look back at the playground and see these kids and what they will be able to enjoy for years to years to come. Building these playgrounds across the country shows the commitment of Morgan Stanley, but it really shows the commitment of us and of you (the volunteers) to your community.”

For a lot of volunteers, community is everything! Alvin Zheng described his whole experience on Thursday as fulfilling. Although temperatures were high and volunteers would get breaks, Zheng said he was eager to get back out there and build.

“You don’t think about the heat one bit; it was how soon can I get back out there and get it done,” he said. “I get joy about volunteering; it’s purposeful work, and you can clearly see the before and after and be happy to know you were part of creating the finished product.”